40 | AUSTRALIAN NEW CAR & SUV BUYER’S GUIDE
B
MW’s iconic M3, now in its
fi fth generation, is available
as a four-door sedan only, based
on the recently superseded F30
3 Series model for now. The M3
sedan lands in Oz starting from
$129,529 for the Pure. The M4
coupe commands a $10,000
premium.
The M3 Competition is
$146,529 and the CS is
$179,529; again, the M4 adds
$10,000 in both cases.
As the name implies, the
Competition is a hard-edged
performance upgrade to the Pure,
including more stiffl y sprung
and fi rmly damped adaptive M
suspension. Twenty-inch forged,
polished alloys with wider rubber
(265/30 front, 285/30 rear) are
also fi tted, with the Active M
Differential and traction control
recalibrated to complement the
car’s higher grip levels.
Firepower from the 3.0-litre
twin-turbo straight six is up
an inconsequential 14kW to
331kW, while peak torque stays
at 550Nm. A freer-breathing
exhaust adds “emotional
resonance to the driving
experience.” Cough.
High-gloss black Shadowline
trim adorns the body. Inside is a
pair of beautiful, lightweight,
shell-style M sports seats,
upholstered in silken leather,
and belts woven with blue,
purple and red M stripes.
The M4 CS engine is tweaked
for 338kW and 600Nm. CS also
features bespoke, suspension,
steering and differential
specifi cation.
Adjustable everything is part of
the M deal, so you can fi ddle with
the engine, transmission, steering,
suspension, traction and stability
control, either as integrated drive
modes or individually. Once the
novelty of dial-a-drive fades, you
simply program your two favourite
combinations into the M1 and M2
settings and activate them via
buttons on the wheel.
With all systems set to Sport+,
as you do, the M4 Competition,
tested here, is as devastatingly
rapid, capable and exhilarating as
its predecessors.
Its 3.0-litre force-fed six tees off
on torque from about 3500rpm,
then lifts again in urgency and
force at 5000, from where it
spins with a mean-ish though
surprisingly restrained warble to a7300rpm redline. It’s an engine
that you don’t have to thrash to
drive quickly and enjoy because its
delivery is so broad and strong.
Despite the increased
“emotional resonance” it offers,
the Competition pipe, and the
engine itself, are a lot less vocal
and raucous than previous M3
powerplants. BMW claims 4.0
seconds for
the 0–100km/h sprint in the
M-DCT Competition model.
That’s just 0.1 second quicker
than the standard M4 and 0.1
second slower than the CS.
M-DCT can be abrupt in the
lower gears around town; in
go-fast mode it’s better, but
still nowhere near as smooth
or intuitive to your right foot as
Porsche’s PDK transmission.
Paddles let you take over. If
you’re caught in a gear too high
exiting a corner, it doesn’t really
matter — torque will forgive.
As with its predecessors, the
M4 Competition’s dynamics
are so taut and secure it’s
almost contemptuous of public
road speed limits. It points
into a corner with precise,
communicative, just right
weighted steering (in Sport; Sport+ is too heavy), then stays fl at and
neutral. Its bigger rear footprint
and the tightly controlled drive
afforded by the M Differential
allow the Competition to power
through the corner with sublime
control and launch out at a
ferocious pace. A lack of rear-
end grip and indisciplined body
control — criticisms levelled
at the standard M4 — are non-
issues on the Competition.
BMW’s M cars run conventional
tyres rather than runfl ats, too, so
the Competition’s ride, though
fi rm, doesn’t rattle your teeth
and Sport mode is reasonably
compliant at highway speeds.
Tyre roar is intrusive, however,
on coarse bitumen.
The M4 Competition goes up
against the Mercedes-AMG C63
S, Audi’s TT RS and the Porsche
Cayman S. All four are absolutely
brilliant cars. Take your pick.
The next M3/M4, based on the
new G20 3 Series, is due in 2020.BMW M3/M4 FROM $129,529
THINGS WE LIKE
Ballistic engine
Great value
Scintillating dynamic package
Superb “comfort” mode
touring manners
Luxurious interior
THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE
Exhaust note lacks previous M3’s
hard edge
DCT transmission a touch slow
and abrupt at low-speed take-up
We’d love to see an M3 Touring
wagon please!
SPEX (M4 Competition)
Made in Germany
3.0-litre twin turbocharged six-
cylinder/seven-speed DCT/rear
wheel drive
331kW of power at 7000rpm/550Nm
of torque from 1850–5500rpm
0–100km/h in 4.0 seconds
6.9L/100km highway; 12.0L/100km
city; 98 octane premium; CO 2
emissions are 204g/km
Warranty: Three years/unlimited
kilometres
Standard: Stability control,
six airbags, alarm, leather
upholstery, Connected Drive,
surround cameras, 20-inch
alloy wheels, leather upholstery,
carbon fi bre trim, adaptive LED
headlights, head-up display, lane
change warning, metallic paint,
navigation, DAB+ radio
Redbook future values: 3yr: 48%;
5yr: 33%compare with ...
Audi TT RS, Lexus RC F, Mercedes-
AMG C63 S, Porsche Cayman SSafety
Not yet tested
Green Vehicle GuidePerformanceHandlingQuality and reliabilityComfort and refi nementValue for money
OverallSTARS